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Secretary Zinke Announces $94.3 Million to States for Parks and Outdoor Recreation through Land...
U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today announced that $94.3 million will be distributed for outdoor recreation and conservation projects to the 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which is funded through offshore oil and gas leasing. These funds are awarded through federal matching grants that leverage public and private investment in America’s state and local public parks.
Efficiency Initiative Led By Knoxville, The Alliance And Other Partners Is Finalist For Bloomberg...
An energy efficiency initiative led by the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, the Alliance to Save Energy and other partners is among six finalists for the international C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards in the Cities4Energy category
Attorney General Sessions Delivers Remarks at “West Virginia on the Rise: Rebuilding the Economy,...
Thanks for that kind introduction, Matt and thank you for your leadership at ACU— one of America’s oldest and largest conservative grassroots organization. Of course I also want to congratulate your family on Mercedes’ return to the White House. I am confident that she is going to do a great job communicating President Trump’s ambitious agenda for this country.
HUD AWARDS $4 MILLION TO EAST CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR DEMOLITION OF LEAD-SURROUNDED HOUSING...
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded the East Chicago Housing Authority (ECHA) in East Chicago, Indiana, $4 million for demolition of the West Calumet public housing complex. HUD has also finalized approval of the demolition plan by ECHA of the complex.
Court Finds Defendants Lied to Consumers When Selling Legal Services for Mortgage Relief
A federal court has found that Jeremy Foti and Charles Marshall, acting through Brookstone Law and Advantis Law, “made numerous false and/or misleading material statements to consumers” when selling legal services for purported mortgage relief.
Speaker Ryan Surveys Hurricane Damage in Florida, Vows Full Commitment to Rebuilding
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) has completed an all-day tour of areas in Florida hardest hit by Hurricane Irma, including downtown Jacksonville and the Keys. Together with a bipartisan delegation, Ryan expressed his commitment to make sure communities have the federal resources they need to rebuild in the aftermath of the storm.
Existing-Home Sales Subside 1.7 Percent in August
Existing-home sales stumbled in August for the fourth time in five months as strained supply levels continue to subdue overall activity, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Sales gains in the Northeast and Midwest were outpaced by declines in the South and West.
Overhead Lines Have Little Impact on Property Values: The Appraisal Journal
Despite negative public perception, high-voltage overhead transmission lines have little impact on nearby property values, according to an article published this week in The Appraisal Journal.
HUD AND CENSUS BUREAU REPORT RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN AUGUST 2017
Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,300,000. This is 5.7 percent (±2.0 percent) above the revised July rate of 1,230,000 and is 8.3 percent (±1.6 percent) above the August 2016 rate of 1,200,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 800,000; this is 1.5 percent (±1.3 percent) below the revised July figure of 812,000.
New Data Shows Strong Sustainability Improvement in the North American Real Estate Sector
GRESB, the Global ESG Benchmark for real assets, today released the results of its annual 2017 GRESB Real Estate Assessment for the North American real estate sector.
State Department Response to Norton Letter on Run-Down Foreign Government Buildings Shows Progress
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), who asked the U.S. State Department to address a growing number of buildings owned by foreign governments in the District of Columbia that have been vacated and fallen into poor condition, released the U.S. State Department Office of Foreign Missions’ (OFM) response to her letter, which shows heightened progress on a number of these properties.
Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage applications decreased 9.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 15, 2017. Last week's results included an adjustment for the Labor Day holiday.
Housing Production Holds Steady in August
Nationwide housing starts fell 0.8 percent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.18 million units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Single-family production rose 1.6 percent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 851,000 after a downwardly revised July reading. Year-to-date, single-family starts are 8.9 percent above their level over the same period last year.
Solar Industry Responds to New York’s Recent Clean Energy Ruling
The solar industry responded to the New York Public Service Commission’s (Commission) approval of utility implementation plans in the Value of Distributed Energy Resources (VDER) proceeding. These critical plans set the compensation for solar customers in each utility service territory and established a successor program to net metering in New York.
Keeping storage tank corrosion rates to a minimum considered vital for use of molten...
Next-generation concentrating solar power (CSP) plants require high-temperature fluids, like molten salts, in the range of 550-750 degrees Celsius to store heat and generate electricity. At those high temperatures, however, the molten salts eat away at common alloys used in the heat exchangers, piping, and storage vessels of CSP systems.
HUD ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS STORM VICTIMS
U.S. Housing and Urban Development today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the U.S. Virgin Islands and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to Hurricane Irma. Last week, President Trump issued a major disaster declaration for St. John and St. Thomas Islands. The President’s declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in this county.
NAHB Members Celebrate Professional Women in Building Week
Members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) are celebrating Professional Women in Building (PWB) Week Sept. 18 – 22. The goals of PWB Week are to highlight the many contributions women make to the residential construction industry and offer an opportunity for PWB members to share the value of council membership
Capital Impact Partners Marks Largest Quarter Ever In Financing Community Development Projects
Capital Impact Partners announced today that it provided $75 million in project financing during the second quarter of 2017. This represents the largest quarterly loan volume in the company’s history as it worked to support increased access to health care, education, affordable housing, and healthy food around the United States.
Builder Confidence Drops Three Points As Hurricanes Add Uncertainty
Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes fell three points to a level of 64 in September from a downwardly revised August reading of 67 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
Student Debt Delaying Millennial Homeownership by 7 Years
Despite being in the prime years to buy their first home, an overwhelming majority of millennials with student debt currently do not own a home and believe this debt is to blame for what they typically expect to be a seven-year delay from buying
SENATE CONFIRMS PAMELA PATENAUDE AS HUD’S DEPUTY SECRETARY
The U.S. Senate today confirmed President Trump’s nomination of Pamela Patenaude to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD Secretary Ben Carson welcomed the Senate’s action and said it comes at a critical time as the Department prepares to support the long-term recovery following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Two Weeks Until Webinar Looks at Risk, Rewards of Energy in Commercial Appraisals
There is still time to learn about an effort by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to put energy performance on the lending table. The National Institute of Building Sciences Council on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (CFIRE) will host a webinar to discuss the energy performance of buildings.
Norton Presses Importance of Pre-Disaster Funding at Committee Hearing
As an Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee hearing yesterday on 21st Century Infrastructure quickly became chiefly devoted to the impacts of recent hurricanes, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) raised the increasing importance of finding ways to improve investments in pre-disaster infrastructure
Ginnie Mae Outlines Action on VA Refinance Speeds
In a letter today to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ginnie Mae outlines its actions to curb VA refinance speeds and aggressive marketing by some VA approved lenders. As Ginnie Mae notes in its letter, rapid refinance and loan churning was recognized as a problem in its VA portfolio last year. This led to Ginnie Mae’s initial measures to change its program rules to address the issue. These initial measures were successful in stopping these practices with many lenders.
Norton Headway on Anti-Home-Rule Riders Gives Her Momentum for Removing Most of Them From...
Although the fiscal year 2018 D.C. Appropriations bill passed by the House today contains five anti-home-rule riders, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she believes she will be able to keep most of them out of the final spending bill, which must be passed by December 8. The Senate version of the fiscal year 2018 D.C. Appropriations bill has not been introduced, but even under Republican control the last two fiscal years, the bill has contained zero anti-home-rule riders
Interior Announces $62 Million Construction Contract on Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project
The Department of the Interior announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation is awarding a construction contract of almost $62 million for part of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project in New Mexico to increase the supply of clean drinking water to surrounding communities.
Silver Spring Water Main Replacement Project Update
Following work to identify and mark all underground utilities, WSSC will begin to mobilize heavy equipment along US 29 (Colesville Road) in Silver Spring on Monday, September 18, weather permitting. Crews will begin excavating near the intersection of MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) and Colesville Road, moving north towards I-495 (Capital Beltway).
NMHC/NAA Statement on Pam Patenaude’s Confirmation as Deputy Secretary of HUD
Statement from the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) and National Apartment Association (NAA) following Pam Patenaude’s confirmation as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Pam Patenaude Right Choice for HUD Deputy Secretary, Say Realtors®
The U.S. Senate today approved the nomination of Pam Patenaude as deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Following is a statement from NAR President William E. Brown on the vote
Yes In My Backyard: New Urban Land Institute Report Outlines How States and Cities...
State governments, in partnership with cities and other local jurisdictions, can and should do more to promote housing development and choice through smarter local land use policies and incentives, according to a new Urban Land Institute (ULI) report, Yes in My Backyard.
